KR20110132352A - Composition for attracting bed bugs - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a composition comprising an unsaturated aldehyde component and an organic acid component, which are powerful bedbug attractants when volatilized and released at very low concentrations. The attractant can be used to attract bedbugs to a location where the bedbugs can be detected, monitored and / or captured.

Description

Bedbug attracting composition {COMPOSITION FOR ATTRACTING BED BUGS}

The present invention relates to bedbug chemical attractants. In particular, the chemical attractant may be combined with a device for detecting, monitoring or capturing bedbug populations.

This application claims the benefit of US Provisional Application No. 61 / 210,106, filed March 13, 2009.

Vampire insects such as bedbugs are annoying pests that damage humans, pets and livestock. Due to their hiding behavior, the detection and control of the common soybean convection , Cimex lectularius and Cimex hemipterous , is often very difficult and time consuming.

Common bed bugs are bed bug species best adapted to living with humans. Bedbugs have lived with humans since ancient times, but many people in the United States have never seen bedbugs. However, the increase in international travel in recent decades has contributed to the re-emergence of bedbugs in the United States. There are many aspects of bedbugs that make it hard to eradicate them once they are made certain.

Adult bedbugs are about 6 mm long, 5-6 mm wide, reddish brown with an oval flat body. The immature larvae are similar in appearance to adults but smaller and lighter in color. Bedbugs can't fly, but they can move quickly over the surface. Female bedbugs lay their eggs in secluded areas, where they can lay up to five eggs per day or as many as 500 eggs during their lifetime. Bedbug eggs are very small, roughly the size of the dust range. When first laid, the eggs are sticky so that they adhere to the surface.

Bedbugs can survive for a long time without feeding. Larvae can survive for months without feeding, and adults can survive up to a year. Therefore, the empty emergence is not easily removed by leaving the place empty for a short time.

Bedbugs are active at night and usually hide in narrow gaps or cracks during the day. Bedbugs can easily find places to hide in beds, bed frames, furniture, along baseboards, in carpets, and in numerous other places. Bedbugs tend to cluster, but do not build houses like some other insects.

Bedbugs get their nutrients by sucking blood through their long, long mouths. They can feed for 3 to 10 minutes in humans, but humans do not easily feel bites. After the bite, the victim often experiences itchy swelling, or a delayed hypersensitivity reaction that causes it to swell. However, some people do not respond to bedbug bites or only very weak reactions. Bedbug bites have symptoms similar to other insect bites, such as mosquitoes and ticks. Without seeing the actual bedbug, it is not possible to determine whether the bite is from the bedbug or another type of insect, or it may even be misdiagnosed as a bee or skin rash. As a result, bedbugs often persist for a long time without being detected.

The emergence of bedbugs is caused by bedbugs being transferred to new areas. Bedbugs can cling to belongings and hide in small spaces so that they can be easily moved from a traveler's belongings. As a result, buildings with high turnover of users, for example hotels, dormitories and apartments, are particularly vulnerable to the emergence of bedbugs.

Due to all the features of bed bugs described herein, bed bugs are difficult to detect and difficult to eradicate. Professional pest removal specialists and pesticides are needed. It is necessary to remove all clutter and unnecessary objects from the room, to remove as much bedbugs and eggs as possible through a vacuum cleaner, and to apply pesticides to hide areas. This type of treatment for eradication can be disruptive for tasks such as hotels. As a result, it is highly desirable to detect bedbugs at the earliest possible moment before the appearance is assured.

The small, mobile and concealed habits of bedbugs make it almost impossible to prevent their appearance. Bedbugs have been found to migrate to adjacent rooms through holes in walls, ceilings and floors. For this reason, the fastest detection may make it possible to not only eradicate insects most easily but also to prevent their spread. Devices and methods for the early detection of bedbugs are particularly desired for those in the service industry.

Bedbug monitors and traps have been used to detect the presence of such insects under various performance records, and these monitors and traps are generally not considered very expensive and effective. Adhesive traps and double-sided carpet tape must be placed in strategic locations to ensure that insects are captured for later identification. Commercial monitor traps must be able to attract insects into the trap for later identification. The traps and attractants must be kept untouched for a period of time to be effective and often depend on the degree of appearance. The need for monitor traps is of primary importance after professional bedbug treatment to ensure the success of pesticide application.

U.S. Patent Application 2008/0168703 A1, published July 17, 2008, discloses a chemical formulation that can attract bedbugs when volatilized, wherein the formulation contains two monoterpenes, two saturated aldehydes, 3 Unsaturated aldehydes, one aromatic aldehyde, one aromatic alcohol and a ketone.

International application WO 2008/051501 A2, published on May 2, 2008 under the Patent Cooperation Treaty, discloses bedbug detection, monitoring and control techniques comprising an attractant for attracting bedbugs to a location. Attractants include any mixture of one or more bird or mammalian pheromones, hormones, sweat, sebum, choline and other body odors.

International application WO 2007/027601 A2, published March 8, 2007 under the Patent Cooperation Treaty, discloses components of breath, sweat and hair or skin oil as bedbug olfactory attractants.

It would be most advantageous to provide a simple, inexpensive and highly effective bed bug attractant composition to effectively attract bed bugs to the bed bug detector, monitor and / or trap locations.

Chemical compositions comprising unsaturated aldehyde components and organic acid components have been found to be potent bedbug attractants when volatilized and released at very low concentrations. The composition can be used to attract bedbugs to locations where bedbugs can be detected, monitored and / or captured.

The present invention provides chemical bedbugs ( Simex lectularius and Simex hemiphterus ) attractant compositions, and methods of using the composition to attract bedbugs to locations where bedbugs can be detected, monitored, and / or captured. The attractant composition comprising an unsaturated aldehyde component and an organic acid component can be volatilized by exposure to ambient temperature, warming the composition, by air migration, or by a combination thereof. Compared to the complex mixture of expensive chemicals disclosed in the literature for attracting bedbugs, the present invention provides a very simple, safe, easy to use and inexpensive chemical bedbug attractant composition.

In one aspect of the invention, a bedbug attractant composition is provided comprising an unsaturated aldehyde component and an organic acid component.

In another aspect of the present invention, a bedbug attractant composition is provided that consists essentially of an unsaturated aldehyde component and an organic acid component.

In one embodiment of the invention, the unsaturated aldehyde component is one selected from the group consisting of trans-2-hexen-1-al (hexenal) and trans-2-octen-1-al (octenal) It may be composed of the above aldehyde. It is preferable that an organic acid component is butyric acid. It is also possible to use pro-aldelhyde compounds and pro-organic compounds, ie compounds which chemically decompose into the desired aldehyde or organic acid upon exposure to air or moisture. For example, trans-2-hexen-1-al diethylacetal and trans-2-octen-1-al diethylacetal can be used in place of hexenal or octenal, trimethylsilyl butyrate, methyl butyrate or ethyl butyrate Can be used instead of butyric acid.

Another aspect of the invention provides a method of attracting bedbugs to a desired location, comprising disposing a attractant composition comprising an unsaturated aldehyde component and an organic acid component at a desired location.

Another aspect of the present invention provides a method of attracting bedbugs to a desired location, comprising disposing a attractant composition consisting essentially of an unsaturated aldehyde component and an organic acid component at a desired location.

The location may include a house, hotel, motel, inn, barracks, cruise ship, evacuation facility, nursing home, camp house, dormitory, condominium, apartment, house where humans or animals live, etc. It may be in, on or near the bedbug control device disposed in one or more rooms. Suitable bed bug control devices include monitors, traps, bait stations and indicator stations.

When the aldehyde component consists of both hexenal and octenal, the aldehyde is in a weight to weight ratio of hexenal to octenal of about 1: 5 to about 5: 1, more preferably from about 3: 1 to about 1: 3 It is preferable to exist in ratio.

To best attract bedbugs, the optimal concentration of aldehyde component to be released is about 2 to about 4500 ng / hr, preferably about 33 to about 810 ng / hr, most preferably about 390 ng / hr. The optimal concentration of organic acid to be released is about 0.12 to about 120000 ng / hr, preferably about 1.2 to about 1500 ng / hr, most preferably about 120 ng / hr.

Mixing butyric acid with hexenal and / or octenal results in an unstable composition and it is necessary to separate the aldehyde component from the acid component. In order for each component of the attractant composition to be released at an appropriate rate, each component is incorporated into separate formulations that may be in gel form, solid form, dissolved in a polar solvent such as water, or dissolved in an oil such as silicone oil. Or be dissolved in any suitable organic solvent (particularly preferred organic solvents include, for example, C ₈ -C ₁₂ alkanes), encapsulated or impregnated into other materials, such as rubber septum or wax. have. Each component is an absorbent material, such as, but not limited to, quilting, fibrous cellulose wood pulp, synthetic cotton, polyester cotton, felt, bonded carded webs, very dense polyethylene sponges, and high-loft spunbond materials It may be incorporated into the). To control the diffusion, a semipermeable membrane can be used to coat the absorbent material. The attractant component may be dispensed from a container having a semipermeable top or a sealed top that includes one or more apertures to allow diffusion into the ambient atmosphere.

The aldehyde component and the organic acid component may also include preservatives such as triacetin, vitamin E or butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and the like.

Alternative preferred embodiments include the use of octenal or hexenal alone, with or without butyric acid as co-attractant.

The aldehydes and organic acids of the present invention are heavier than air, and for this reason an auxiliary means may be advantageous for the volatilization of the chemicals. Volatilization of the composition can be accomplished by simply evaporating the composition or formulation thereof at ambient temperature or by using a heat source. Heat can be provided in many ways, such as through chemical reactions, coil resistance heaters, light bulbs, light emitting diodes, transistors, and the like. The heat source preferably provides a temperature in the range of about 30 to about 40 ° C, most preferably in the range of about 32 to about 35 ° C. Micro fans, piezoelectric nebulizers or passive ventilation may also be used.

It has also been found that adding carbon dioxide to the volatilized composition provides an improvement in attractant performance. Carbon dioxide levels of about 1 to about 50 volume percent of the pressure of the volatile composition are preferred.

In a preferred aspect of the present invention, a method of attracting bedbugs to a specific location is provided by volatilizing a bedbug attractant composition comprising an unsaturated aldehyde component and an organic acid component, optionally adding carbon dioxide and / or heating the volatile composition.

The following examples further illustrate the invention and include protocols for evaluating the methods of the invention, but of course should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention.

Example

Example 1

Measures of bedbug clustering effects

Attention Analysis : The analysis zone is a 150 x 15 mm plastic Petri containing 125 mm pieces cut from qualitative filter paper (VWR # 28320-100) adhered to the floor using 3M Super 77® multipurpose spray adhesive. Prepared from the dish (VWR # 25384-326). An 80 mm hole was cut out of the lid and a 500 μm mesh Nytex® body (Bioquip, # 7293B) was glued to cover the opening using quick epoxy. In each assay a new bottom dish was used. For these experiments, a 2.4 cm filter paper folded to form a tent was treated with a control treatment (10 μl silicone oil for the aldehyde control and 5 μl deionized water for the acid control) or 10 μl experimental test treatment diluted in silicone oil ( Aldehyde) or 5 μl of experimental chemical (acid) diluted in deionized water. Ten bed bugs per test were released into the assay zone for the aldehyde test treatment and control, and five bed bugs per test were released into the assay zone for the acid test treatment. A daily cycle of bedbugs ( Simex Rectularius ) (12 hour light: 12 hour dark (7 AM on: 7 PM off) illumination cycle) was incubated and evaluated under normal room lighting conditions at room temperature. The readings were taken at 4 hour intervals for 4 hours for aldehydes and 1 hour for acids because of the rapid volatility of the acid for 1 hour. The number of bed bugs under the control filter paper disc and the number of bed bugs under the test treatment filter paper disc were recorded. The test treatment group was considered attractant if the number of bedbugs under the experimental filter paper disc was greater than the number under the control filter disc. Table 1 below summarizes the experimental data and the experimental test treatment groups considered as attractants are shown in bold.

Bedbug Attractions for Aldehydes and Organic Acids Throughput
* (ppm) 1 hours 2 hours 3 hours 4 hours Control group Experiment Control group Experiment Control group Experiment Control group Experiment Table 1A Aldehyde Hexenal * 10000 3 0 4 One 4 One 4 One 1000 One 6 One 7 One 9 One 9 100 0 6.5 0 8 0 9 0 8.5 10 9 3 5 3.5 5 4 5 5.5 One 0 4 0 6 0 6.5 0.5 6 Octenal * 10000 0 2 2 2 3 2 4 4 1000 1.5 5 3 4.5 3 5 3 5 100 0 5 One 6.5 One 7 One 6.5 10 4 2 4.5 4 5 4.5 5.5 4 One 5 One 4.5 2 5.5 3.5 3.5 5 ** Valer
Aldehyde 10 mg 0.3 0.1 ND ND ND ND ND ND Table 1B Organic Acids Formic acid















1000 One 3 100 4 One 50 3 One 10 3 0 Acetic acid 10000 3 3 1000 2 3 100 One One 50 2 One 10 One 0 Butyric acid 10000 One 4 1000 0 4 100 0 4 50 2 2 10 0 4

* 10000 ppm throughput for hexenal and octenal is one test; The rest are all averages of two trials.

Hexenal is trans-hex-2-en-1-al and octenal is trans-oct-2-en-1-al.

"Experiment" is an experimental test treatment group.

** Average of 2 exams. These tests included six control filter paper discs treated with 10 μl of methanol and one experimental filter paper disc treated with 10 μl of valeraldehyde / methanol solution delivering 10 mg of valericaldehyde to the filter paper; Test readings were made only for 1 hour.

Using the cluster analysis as described above, most bedbugs were attracted using about 1 to about 1,000 ppm hexenal or about 100 to about 1000 ppm octenal. At high concentrations of about 10,000 ppm, hexenal and octenal were much less attractive to bedbugs. Octenal at concentrations below about 100 ppm was also less attractive to bed bugs. Of the organic acids tested, about 10 to about 10,000 ppm butyric acid was most attractive to bed bugs. Valeraldehyde and saturated aldehydes were not attracted to bedbugs in this test.

Example 2

Determination of Bedbug Community Effect Using a Mixture of Hexenal and Octenal

Attraction Analysis : In a manner similar to that described in Example 1, 10 bedbugs per test ( Simex Rectularius ) were used in the aldehyde experimental and control groups to compare the bedbug induction against a mixture of hexenal and octenal. For this experiment, a mixture of hexenal and octenal was diluted in silicone oil in the following proportions: 100: 0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:72 and 0: 100. Each test treatment group contained about 30 ppm of test chemical (s), 5 μl of test treatment group was applied to the experimental filter paper discs, and only 5 μl of silicone oil was applied to the control filter paper discs. Readings were taken every hour for 4 hours from the release of bedbugs in the assay zone. The number of bed bugs under the control disc and the number of bed bugs under the experimental disc were recorded. The test treated group was considered attractant if the number of bedbugs under the experimental filter paper disc was greater than the number under the control disc. Table 2 below summarizes the experimental data and the experimental test treatment groups considered to be attractants are shown in bold.

Bedbug attraction for a mixture of hexenal and octenal (average of two tests) Treatment group
* H: O ratio 1 hours 2 hours 3 hours 4 hours Control group Experiment Control group Experiment Control group Experiment Control group Experiment 100: 0 6 3 6.5 3 5.5 4.5 5 5 75:25 One 9 0.5 9.5 0 9.5 0 10 50:50 4.5 5 0.5 7.5 2 7 2.5 3.5 25:75 One 6 0.5 6.5 4 5.5 5 5 0: 100 One 7.5 0.5 7.5 0 9 0 8.5

* H is hexenal (trans-hex-2-en-1-al); O is octenal (trans-oct-2-en-1-al). "Experiment" is an experimental test treatment group.

Using the cluster analysis as described above, the most bedbugs were attracted to the experimental filter paper discs containing a 75:25 mixture of hexenal to octenal or octenal alone.

Example 3

Determination of Bedbug Community Effect Using a Mixture of Hexenal, Octenal and Butyric Acid

Attraction analysis : In a manner similar to that described in Example 1, 10 bedbugs per test ( Simex lectularius ) in each experimental test treatment group and control group to compare the bedbug attraction of hexenal, octenal and butyric acid mixtures Was used. For this test, a mixture of hexenal and octenal (75:25 ratio) was diluted in silicone oil to provide about 120 ppm solution. Butyric acid was dissolved in deionized water to give a solution of about 100 ppm. For each test, 5 μl of the above test treatment group was applied to the experimental filter paper disc, only 5 μl of silicone oil was applied to the hexenal / octenal control filter disc, and 5 μl of deionized water was added to the butyric acid control filter disc. 5 μl of silicone and 5 μl of deionized water were applied to the filter paper disc for the mixture control. Readings were taken every hour for 4 hours from the release of bedbugs in the assay zone. The number of bed bugs under the control disc and the number of bed bugs under the experimental disc were recorded. Test chemicals were considered attractants when the number of bed bugs under the experimental filter paper disc was greater than the number under the control disc. Table 3 below summarizes the experimental data and shows in bold the experimental test treatment groups considered to be attractants.

Bedbug attraction to hexenal, octenal and butyric acid mixtures (average of two tests) Treatment group
1 hours 2 hours 3 hours 4 hours Control group Experiment Control group Experiment Control group Experiment Control group Experiment ** H / O One 4.5 One 5.5 2 5 2.5 6 BA One 4.5 2 5.5 2 4.5 2 5 BA / H / O 1.5 6 1.5 6 1.5 6 0.5 7

* H is hexenal (trans-hex-2-en-1-al); O is octenal (trans-oct-2-en-1-al); BA is butyric acid. ** 75/25 ratio hexenal / octenal, 120 ppm solution. "Experiment" is an experimental test treatment group.

Using cluster analysis as described above, bed bugs were attracted to a mixture of hexenal and oxenal and also butyric acid. However, bed bugs were even more attracted to experimental filter paper discs containing a 75:25 mixture of hexenal / octenal with butyric acid.

Example 4

Determination of Bedbug Community Effect Using a Mixture of Hexenal, Octenal, Butyric Acid, and Carbon Dioxide

The test zone consisted of a polystyrene container of 60 × 40 × 22 cm (L: W: H). A 60 × 40 cm piece of filter paper was glued onto the floor to provide space for bedbugs. At one end of the test zone, a piece of triangular plastic (16 cm high x 25 cm long) was glued to the center of the container side and bottom to create a test zone of the same area on either side of the compartment. On each side of the compartment, a piece of Tygon® tubing is inserted through a hole 7 cm above the bottom of each test zone, delivering control gas to one side of the compartment (control zone) and the experimental gas. Was delivered to the other side of the compartment (experimental zone). The tubing was positioned to deliver gas downward into the test zone with each outlet 6 cm above the filter paper adhered to the bottom of the vessel. At the other end of the test zone, a 4W night light was placed 35 cm above the bottom of the zone and adjusted to a 12 hour light: 12 hour dark (7 am on: 7 pm off) light cycle. In addition, a small fan (Boston, Catalog # EH5DF) was placed adjacent to the night light to slowly remove gas from the distal end of the zone. The air released by the experimental and control gases was filled in the compartment and slowly exited from each air inlet, mixed in the zone and removed by the fan. This forms a laminar flow, where bedbugs have the opportunity to choose a test gas or a control gas. Fifty bedbugs ( Simex lectularius ) were captured in a 90 mm Petri dish inverted at the furthest from the control and experimental zones until the bedbugs were not moving. Experiments were started with the removal of Petri dishes and readings were taken every hour for 2 hours. The data collected were the number of bed bugs in the experimental, control and free test zone bands. In addition, gas temperature, relative humidity, air flow rate and CO ₂ % data were collected. The test gas was considered attractant if there were more bed bugs in the experimental zone than the control zone.

Temperature Control : The gas temperature was controlled by sending gas through a 15 m Tygon® pipe coiled in a temperature control bath. At a rate of 100 ml / min, it took 6.3 minutes for the gas to equilibrate to the desired temperature. Air temperature was monitored by a high and low thermometer.

Relative humidity : The air supply from the gas in the vessel was very dry. In order to increase the relative humidity, the inlet gas (air and CO ₂ ) was passed through an aquarium air stone placed in distilled water (500 ml Elenmeyer flask). Drain traps were placed in-line to prevent water from entering the temperature exchange piping. Relative humidity was monitored using a high and low hygrometer placed in-line just before the gas entered the test zone. The average relative humidity was controlled at 20-70% relative humidity, preferably about 40% relative humidity.

Air volume and test composition : The gas was blended and released in a controlled amount. To achieve this, Fisher & Porter (Göttingen, Germany) and MG Scientific gas / air gauges were calibrated using volumetric displacement. The relationship between the valve adjustment and the flow rate was measured and the information was used to determine the valve adjustment capable of delivering the blended gas (air and CO ₂ ) at a flow rate of about 100 or about 200 ml / min. All gases were preconditioned (air and relative humidity) before mixing. The control gas used in the experiment consisted of domestic compressed air. Carbon dioxide test gas was prepared by blending domestic compressed air with CO ₂ in a 5% or 100% container. An aqueous solution containing about 300 ppm of hexenal and octenal in a 75:25 hexenal to octenal ratio was prepared by dissolving aldehyde in deionized water. Similarly, an aqueous solution containing about 200 ppm butyric acid was prepared in deionized water. One 100 μl pipette (100 μl Drummond Wiretrol) was filled with the aldehyde solution and one 100 μl pipette was filled with the butyric acid solution. One end of each microliter pipette was sealed with parafilm and each end was left open. The filled pipette was attached inside a plastic container having an air inlet on one side and an air outlet on the opposite side. The sealed lid was placed on a plastic container and the container was installed in-line after the humidity and temperature conditioning of the gas and before the gas entered the test zone. Microliter pipettes were weighed before and after use to determine the amount of aldehyde and acid released. Table 4 below summarizes the data collected from the experiment.

Bedbug attraction to gas mixtures of hexenal, octenal, butyric acid and carbon dioxide after 2 hours of exposure Test gas composition Test gas temperature (℃) Bedbug% in experimental band Bedbugs in control band% CO ₂ (50% concentration) 23 76.0 0 Hexenal, octenal,
Butyric acid
26
82.0
6.0 ** hexenal, octenal,
Butyric Acid, CO ₂
24
93.8
0

* 75/25 ratio hexenal / octenal at a concentration of 73 ng / hr at a flow rate of 100 ml / min; Butyric acid at a concentration of 3.097 μg / hr at a flow rate of 100 ml / min.

** 75/25 ratio hexenal / octenal at a concentration of 73 ng / hr at a flow rate of 100 ml / min; Butyric acid at a concentration of 3.097 μg / hr and CO _{2 at a} 50% concentration at a flow rate of 100 ml / min.

As can be seen from the test zone analysis as described above, bed bugs are attracted to the gas phase mixture of hexenal, octenal and butyric acid; Bed bugs were even more attracted to the test gas with carbon dioxide.

Example 5

Determination of bedbug populations using hexenal, butyric acid, trans-2-hexen-1-al diethylacetal, trimethylsilyl butyrate or methyl butyrate dissolved in alkane solvent

Using the test zones and methods described in Example 4, about 300 ppm pro-aldehyde compound dissolved in nonane, trans-2-hexene-1-al dietalacetal, about 300 ppm hex dissolved in nonane A test treatment group was prepared containing a sensor, about 200 ppm butyric acid dissolved in nonane, and about 200 ppm pro-organic acid compound, trimethylsilyl butyrate or methyl butyrate dissolved in nonano. A separate 100 μl pipette (100 μl drummond wiretrol) was filled with the test solution. One end of each microliter pipette was sealed with parafilm and one end of each was left open. The filled pipette was attached inside a plastic container with an air inlet on one side and an air outlet on the opposite side. The sealed lid was placed on a plastic container and the container was installed in-line after the humidity and temperature conditioning of the gas and before the gas entered the test zone. Microliter pipettes were metered before and after use to determine the amount of test compound released. Table 5 below summarizes the data collected from the experiment.

Bedbug attraction to gas mixture of trans-2-hexene-1-al diethylacetal or methyl butyrate after 2 hours exposure Test gas composition Test gas temperature (℃) Bedbug% in experimental band Bedbugs in control band% Trans-2-hexene-1-al
Diethylacetal 22 28.0 10.0 Trimethylsilyl
Butyrate 21 9 16 Methyl butyrate 21 34.0 24.0 Hexenal 21 38.0 22.0 Butyric acid 21 34.0 24.0

Trans-2-hexene-1-al diethylacetal at a concentration of 184.8 ng / hr at a flow rate of 100 ml / min; Trimethylsilyl butyrate at a concentration of 182.0 ng / hr at a flow rate of 100 ml / min; Methyl butyrate at a concentration of 150.0 ng / hr at a flow rate of 100 ml / min; Hexenal at a concentration of 180.0 ng / hr at a flow rate of 100 ml / min; Butyric acid at a concentration of 150.0 ng / hr at a flow rate of 100 ml / min.

As can be seen in the test zone analysis as described above, bed bugs are attracted to a gas phase mixture containing trans-2-hexen-1-al diethylacetal, trimethylsilyl butyrate, methyl butyrate, hexenal or butyric acid. Bedbugs are best attracted to gaseous mixtures containing trans-2-hexene-1-al diethylacetal, methyl butyrate, hexenal or butyric acid than control gases that do not contain aldehydes or organic acid compounds.

Example 6

Determination of Bedbug Community Effect Using a Mixture of Hexenal, Octenal and Butyric Acid in Alkanes Solvent

The test zone consisted of a polystyrene container of 60 × 40 × 22 cm (L: W: H). A 60 × 40 cm piece of filter paper was glued onto the floor to provide space for bedbugs. At one end of the test zone, a piece of triangular plastic (16 cm high x 25 cm long) was glued to the center of the container side and bottom to create a test zone of the same area on either side of the compartment. Traps were placed in both control and experimental zones.

The control band trap did not contain any bait, while the experimental band trap contained two 100 μl pipettes. One end of each pipette (100 μl of Drummond Trollol) was sealed with parafilm while the other end was left open. The first pipette contained about 300 ppm of a solution containing hexenal and octenal in a 75:25 ratio, prepared by dissolving aldehyde in decane. The second pipette contained about 200 ppm of butyric acid solution in nonane.

Fifty bedbugs ( Simex lectularius ) were captured in a 90 mm Petri dish inverted at the furthest from the control and experimental zones until the bedbugs were not moving. The experiment was started with the removal of the Petri dish. After 2 hours, 20 to 30 bed bugs were located within 5 to 15 cm of the test zone trap, but no bed bug was observed closer than 5 cm to the trap. This observation supports the conclusion that the attractants effectively attract bed bugs at a given concentration but repel them if present in too high a concentration.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that variations of the invention may be utilized and that the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, the present invention includes all modifications included within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims.

Claims (30)

A method of attracting bedbugs to a desired location, comprising disposing an attractant composition consisting essentially of an unsaturated aldehyde component and an organic acid component. The method of claim 1,
The unsaturated aldehyde component consists of at least one aldehyde selected from the group consisting of trans-2-hexen-1-al and trans-2-octen-1-al. The method of claim 2,
The aldehyde is trans-2-hexen-1-al. The method of claim 2,
The aldehyde is trans-2-octen-1-al. The method of claim 2,
Wherein the aldehyde component is trans-2-hexene-1-al and trans-2-octen-1-al in a weight to weight ratio of about 1: 5 to about 5: 1. The method of claim 1,
The organic acid is butyric acid. The method of claim 1,
The unsaturated aldehyde component consists of one or more aldehydes selected from the group consisting of trans-2-hexene-1-al and trans-2-octen-1-al and the organic acid is butyric acid. The method of claim 7, wherein
A process wherein the unsaturated aldehyde and organic acid component are dissolved in an organic solvent. The method of claim 8,
The attractant composition is disposed in, on or near the bedbug control device. A method of attracting bedbugs to a location by volatilizing the bedbug attractant composition comprising an unsaturated aldehyde component and an organic acid component at a specific location. The method of claim 10,
The unsaturated aldehyde component consists of one or more aldehydes selected from the group consisting of trans-2-hexene-1-al and trans-2-octen-1-al and the organic acid is butyric acid. The method of claim 10,
And further adding carbon dioxide to the volatilized composition. A method of attracting bedbugs to a location by volatilizing the bedbug attractant composition consisting essentially of an unsaturated aldehyde component and an organic acid component at a specific location. The method of claim 13,
The unsaturated aldehyde component consists of one or more aldehydes selected from the group consisting of trans-2-hexene-1-al and trans-2-octen-1-al and the organic acid is butyric acid. The method of claim 13,
And further adding carbon dioxide to the volatilized composition. Bedbug attractant composition comprising an unsaturated aldehyde component and an organic acid component. 17. The method of claim 16,
A composition wherein the unsaturated aldehyde component consists of one or more aldehydes selected from the group consisting of trans-2-hexen-1-al and trans-2-octen-1-al. The method of claim 17,
And wherein the aldehyde is trans-2-hexen-1-al. The method of claim 17,
The aldehyde is trans-2-octen-1-al. The method of claim 17,
And wherein the aldehyde component is trans-2-hexen-1-al and trans-2-octen-1-al in a weight to weight ratio of about 1: 5 to about 5: 1. 17. The method of claim 16,
The composition wherein the organic acid is butyric acid. A bedbug attractant composition consisting essentially of an unsaturated aldehyde component and an organic acid component. The method of claim 22,
A composition wherein the unsaturated aldehyde component consists of one or more aldehydes selected from the group consisting of trans-2-hexen-1-al and trans-2-octen-1-al. The method of claim 23,
And wherein the aldehyde is trans-2-hexen-1-al. The method of claim 23,
The aldehyde is trans-2-octen-1-al. The method of claim 23,
And wherein the aldehyde component is trans-2-hexen-1-al and trans-2-octen-1-al in a weight to weight ratio of about 1: 5 to about 5: 1. The method of claim 22,
The composition wherein the organic acid is butyric acid. 17. The method of claim 16,
A composition wherein the unsaturated aldehyde component is a pro-aldehyde compound. 17. The method of claim 16,
A composition wherein the organic acid component is a pro-organic compound. The method of claim 22,
A composition further comprising carbon dioxide.